Paulding County GaArchives Obituaries.....Worthy, Jerry Lynn (Dr.) October 24, 2004
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Wyndell Taylor gagenie@bellsouth.net July 8, 2006, 9:17 pm
The Dallas New Era, Dallas, Georgia, Thursday, November 4, 2004
The life of Doctor Jerry L. Worthy, age 72, was celebrated on October 27,
after he left for his Heavenly home on Sunday, October 24, 2004. All eight of
his children were by his side when Dr. Worthy left this world for Glory.
Dr. Worthy was born in Memphis, TN in February, 1932 and the youngest of 5
children. His mother Era raised him along with the help of his older brother,
Bill and sister, Joy. Dr. Worthy's family was of very, very modest means and
he learned early in life that he could advance in sports, particularly in the
game of football, the game he loved throughout his life. He became a talented
young tailback and was placed on the all Memphis City team through middle
school and 9th grade. This skill proved to be one of the most fortunate events
in his loife. Dr. Worthy received a football scholarship to a well respected,
private high school known as Columbia Military Academy in Columbia, Tennessee.
While at CMA his football career progressed and he was soon befriended by the
local physician. He graduated as one of the otp cadets in his graduation
class. He received a scholarship to the University of Tennessee but quickly
learned that football was not his calling. He graduated from the University of
Tennessee Medical School in 1957 and moved to Dallas in October of 1958 with
his wife, Emily, and three small children. He began his medical practice in
Dallas with Dr. Sam Braloy at Paulding Memorial Hospital. Within a year, he
began a practice with his partner, Dr. JUohn Covington and later they founded
and built Medical Arts Hospital/Clinic and practiced for 47 years.
During Dr. Worthy's practice, he performed hundreds of surgeries, delooivered
hundreds of children and made many, many house calls allo over Paulding
County. Dr. Worthy had two more chyildren with Emily Worthy and then 3 with
Joannie East for a total of 8 children.
Dr. Worthy was a founding member of First Paulding Federal Savings & Loan, an
original member of the Paulding County Water Authority, a member of the
Paulding County Zoning Board, a member of the Paulding County Health Board and
the jail doctor for many years.
He was a member of the Paulding County Board of Education during the
integration period and the building of Paulding County High School. He was the
Athletic Physician for Dallas High and Paulding County High for 30 years. He
was the regional physician for Southern Railroad and a First Class Flight
Physician for the Federal Aviation Administratsion. Dr. Worthy was also an
instrument rated pilot in his own right and enjoyed flying very much. He
received the FAA's highest award for his phenomenal efforts during the
Southern Airlines DC-9 crash in Paulding County in the late 1970s. He was a
founding member of the Paulding County Jaycees, a Mason as well as a Shriner.
He was the first mayor for the City of Braswell in nearly 100 years.
Whether you knew Dr. Worthy as a doctor, pilot, golf course opreator or in one
of the many civic or social organizations that he belonged in, you knew that
he loved the people of Paulding County. He developed many real and lasting
friendships.
Dr. Worthy is survived by his sons, Jerry Lynn Worthy Jr. and Greg D. Worthy
and daughters, Karen Worthy Huff (David), Gayle Worthy Blalock (Wayne), Susan
Worthy Powell (Bob), Necie Worthy Tant (Ray), Lynn Worthy Laas and Stacy I.
Worthy, all of Dallas. He is also survived by his brother, William Worthy of
Dallas and his sister, Joy Goodman of Bowden; 22 grandchildren and 5 great-
grandchildren.
Dr. Worthy was preceded in death by his parents, Mrs. Era Marsh Worthy of
Dallas and Mr. William Worthy, Sr. of Nashville, Tennessee; his brothers, John
Worthy and Paul Worthy and his grand-daughter, Addrianne Worthy.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, October 27, at 2:00 pm in the chapel
of Clark Funeral Home with Reverend Marvin Cochran and Dr. Quinn Evans
officiating. Interment followed in Paulding Memorial Gardens in Hiram.
Arrangements by Clark Funeral Home.
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